AD/TB10/17 - Horizontal Stabilizer Balance Weight

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which were enacted by the Parliament of Australia, are designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of civil aviation in Australia. Within this framework, Part 39 - 105 includes specific airworthiness directives aimed at addressing particular safety concerns for different aircraft models. One such directive, AD/TB10/17, was introduced to address the risk of dangerous flutter conditions due to potential detachment of the horizontal stabilizer balance weight in Aerospatiale (Socata) TB9 and TB10 (Tobago) series aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 1 through 1217. The policy objective of this directive is to mandate a compliance check within 25 hours of time in service following 13 February 1991, requiring inspections to ensure the safety dimensions of the balance weight attaching nuts. This legislative instrument, issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, aims to mitigate risks associated with the operation of these specific aircraft models by enforcing a detailed inspection process as outlined in Alert SB 57. The directive underscores the importance of maintaining stringent safety standards to prevent hazardous conditions that could compromise flight safety.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105 concerning the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's schedule of airworthiness directives, apply to all Aerospatiale (Socata) TB9 and TB10 (Tobago) series aeroplanes with serial numbers ranging from 1 through 1217. This directive mandates that operators of these aircraft models must comply with Alert SB 57 to ensure safety, requiring an inspection of the horizontal stabilizer balance weight's attaching nuts within 25 hours of time in service after 13 February 1991. Failure to adhere to this directive can result in a dangerous flutter condition due to potential detachment of the balance weight. The regulation is enforced at the national level and is applicable to all relevant aircraft within the Commonwealth of Australia, with no exclusions or exemptions specified in this particular directive. The scope of the directive can be extended or modified through subordinate instruments, which may provide further details or clarifications on compliance and enforcement.

Key Provisions

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, addresses the safety of aircraft by mandating the application of airworthiness directives. The regulation at hand, AD/TB10/17, pertains to Aerospatiale (Socata) TB9 and TB10 (Tobago) series aeroplanes. This directive requires action in accordance with Alert SB 57, which involves an inspection to ensure that the attaching nuts of the horizontal stabilizer balance weight meet the required safety dimensions (AD/TB10/17). The directive applies to model TB9 and TB10 series aeroplanes with serial numbers 1 through 1217. The compliance requirement mandates that this inspection and any necessary corrective action must be completed within 25 hours of time in service after 13 February 1991. The Act imposes several obligations on the operators and owners of the specified aircraft. These include ensuring that the aircraft are inspected as per the directive to verify that the horizontal stabilizer balance weight is securely attached. This involves a thorough examination of the nuts that attach the balance weight to the aircraft, which must be within the specified tolerances to prevent potential hazards. Operators must document that the inspection has been conducted and that any necessary repairs or adjustments have been made to comply with the safety standards set forth in the directive. Furthermore, they must maintain records of compliance for a period as stipulated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Failure to comply with AD/TB10/17 could result in serious safety implications, including the potential for the horizontal stabilizer balance weight to detach, leading to a dangerous flutter condition. The Act delineates the consequences for non-compliance, which can include both civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties may involve substantial fines, while criminal penalties could result in imprisonment, reflecting the seriousness of ensuring compliance with safety directives in aviation. The specific penalties for breaches of these regulations are detailed in the Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which may include fines up to certain amounts and imprisonment for up to two years for individuals, depending on the severity and intent of the breach.